191 days down, 174 to go.
Today I begin my purpose of coming out to Reno which is to shoot a music video for one of the very few up and coming Rappers that I truly respect; A-Wax. the song is titled 'On My Grind' and I am featured on the hook. So it's only right I make an appearance and lend my presence to his video.

Thus for today's painting I will be painting a video camera right next to my Michael Jackson legs from day 178 which was to mark his one year anniversary because when I think music and music videos, MJ was and still is the king.

Here is a closer look.

190 days down, 175 to go.
As I head for the dusty desert city of Reno Nevada, I am reminded that this is the first state in the Union with legalized gambling. As a matter of fact, the entire state of Nevada was was built on and around the gaming industry.

So to represent this fact in my painting, I will be adding a casino chip to represent what this entire state is known for.

Here is a closer look.

189 days down, 176 to go.
I'm heading out to Vegas Friday afternoon to shoot a music video my Rapper A-Wax for his single 'On My Grind' which feature me on the Hook. You can check out the song on iTunes by searching 'A-Wax On My Grind'. So all day was spent getting my style right and looking into ways to blend my look with a Rap video and that wasn't easy. If you've seen my video for 'She Loves Me', you would know that my style is very high fashion and futuristic Star Trek Chic so to some how blend it with a Hip Hop video without toning it down and compromising my look can be difficult but nevertheless, my stylist was up to the challenge. However he did have me running around LA like a chicken with it's head cut off because we had to pull a couple items from stores all around LA. So suffice it to say my look is gonna be on point. Hopefully I should have some pics from the video shoot on tomorrow's post.

So for today's addition is all about style. I will be painting on some style to my crazy man depiction from day 128 because I too was a little crazy running around town with stylist in to just to get the right RIZ look for a Rap video. To do this, I will paint on some gold buttons on his torso so give him some style.

Here is a closer look.

188 days down, 177 to go.
Today was a big day for me as an artist. I finally got my own VEVO account (Youtube.com/RizVEVO). For those who are not familiar with VEVO, here's a brief introduction to VEVO. VEVO is a music video and entertainment website. It is owned by Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Abu Dhabi Media Company. The service was launched officially on 8 December 2009. The video hosting for VEVO is provided by YouTube, with Google and VEVO sharing the advertising revenue. VEVO offers music videos from three of the four major record labels: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI. So as an independent/unsigned artist, you cannot have a VEVO channel. Thus since recently signing with Ultra Records which is distributed by Warner, I am now an artist on one of the "Major" label and thus my very own VEVO channel.

So for today's addition, I will be painting the VEVO logo in the only screen that I currently have on my painting which is my calculator screen from day 105. Since Vevo is a video channel, it only makes sense to paint it into a screen.

Here is a closer look.

187 days down, 178 to go.
The Netherlands are now in the World Cup finals and boy has it been a long time coming. They have long been regarded as the best team never to win the World cup but this year it's gonna be different. As always, I'm gonna go ahead and call it for the Netherlands. That's how much faith I have in the Oranje. Being part Oranje myself, it's only right that I say again Hup, Holland, Hup!

So to mark my prediction and set it in stone or perhaps in canvas, I'll will be painting one of the footballs in my FIFA 2010 logo from day 162 oranje (orange) as an homage to the Dutch team and their future crowning as 2010 FIFA World Cup champions.

Here is a closer look.

186 days down, 179 to go.
Ok since my first choice Nigeria got knocked out and my second choice Ghana got eliminated, I'm left with my third choice to win the World Cup and that's The Netherlands. If you don't already know, I grew up in the Netherlands so it's only right I support them at this juncture to win the World Cup. So I'm all about the Holland right now, taking it back to my Dutch roots shouting 'Hup Hol' from the top of my lungs which in English means 'Go Holland'.

So for today's addition, I will be painting one of the things that fascinate me most about Holland besides the clogs and canals and cheese...the windmills. You see them all across the country side creating a picturesque landscape that seemingly only exists within a Vincent Van Gogh painting who also happens to be Dutch. I will be painting this windmill on my 'Back To LA' house from day 93. Now if Holland wins, which I know they will I'm gonna have to do something pretty big on my canvas to represent the Orange.

Here is a closer look.

185 days down, 180 to go.
Fitness & Greenery is my theme for today as I went hiking in a lush part of Beverly hills. All around me was manicured greenery and beautiful rolling hills. It's like a hidden oasis for the rich and boy did I feel rich today.

So for today's painting I will be adding a lush green triangle to my fitness section to represent today's fitness excursion through the Beverly Hills hiking trail. Plus placing it right under the mountain from yesterday creates a beautiful green valley.

Here is a closer look.

184 days down, 181 to go.
Today is the 4th of July, the day that America won it's independence from the tyranny of the British. Now they are the best of allies. Time does change yesterday.

So to mark this momentous occasion, I have decided to paint America's date the #4 onto my mosaic in the very location that marks another of Americas favored days 'Cinco De Mayo' from day 125 where I painted a sombrero. I will be painting this #4 in Old Glory's red and white stripes.

Here is a closer look.

183 days down, 182 to go.
Today I hit up the world famous Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills for a hike and a jog. This was my first time hiking Runyon even though I've lived in it's shadow for several years and boy did it kick my a$$. My trainer suggested I take a friend as co-motivation to help complete it and we definitely motivated each other through it. Now I need to be in tip top shape by this Friday as I'm scheduled to shoot a music video with rapper A-Wax in hot hot Nevada. So you better believe the shirts will be coming off. Now I'm not gonna get plaid out looking all sloppy for that so I'm gonna be hitting Runyon at least two more times before Friday with regular gym trips daily. And if I keep to that plan, I should be on fire come Friday. So be sure to check out 'On My Grind' music video by A-Wax featuring Riz when it comes out.

Thus for today's addition, I will be painting a mountain because when I first laid eyes on Runyon this morning, It looked like a mountain to me. But with one step after the other and not giving up, I conquered the mountain. This is true for every mountainous obstacles we may face in life. Break it down to baby steps and before long, the mountain wound be overcome. I will be painting this mountain next to my fitness triangle cluster to represent the fitness aspect of it.

Here is a closer look.

182 days down, 183 to go.
As a fellow African, there is no secret in who I'm now rooting for in the World Cup. Gooooo Ghana!! For them to make it this far as the only African nation still in the World Cup which for the first time ever is being held in Africa, they deserve a round of applause for bringing tremendous pride to Africa. Africa really needs this because for far too long we have been handed the short end of the stick. This would be something we all can rally around as an identity and a positive symbol of Africa's might and strength.

So as I type this post, the Ghana Vs. Uruguay game is at 1-1 but regardless of how it turns our, Im still gonna honor Ghana in my painting. That's just to show my solidarity towards my fellow African brothers and say to them how I am all Africans are truly proud of their achievements in this World Cup. And whether they take it all or fall at the hands of Uruguay, we have already been full to the brim with pride and anything else is just the icing on the cake. Thanks Ghana and I ask that you accept my sincere show of gratitude to you guys for doing us proud.

So for today's addition, I will be painting the Ghana flag around my Texas star from day 42 and within the roses circle from day 44 because the Ghana flag consists of a star in it's center.

Here is a closer look.

GHANA WAS ROBBED!!!